Saturday, 5 May 2018

Zika Virus: Scientists Breeding Special Mosquitoes That Are Unable To Transmit Deadly Disease

By Chioma Umeha

Scientists are
breeding special mosquitoes that can’t carry particular diseases, in an attempt
to stop the spread of the Zika virus.

The Zika virus is spread by mosquitoes, as are other
diseases like dengue fever. But scientists hope that by breeding more
mosquitoes they might be able to fight the disease.

The virus has been declared a worldwide emergency after it
spread rapidly and has been linked to a quickly-growing number of babies being
born with abnormally small heads.

Zika virus ‘could affect hundreds of thousands of people in
Spain’

Thousands of people around the world are helping to breed
mosquitoes with a special bacteria that means they are unable to transmit the
disease. Those insects could then spread around the world, crowding out the
mosquitoes that can carry the disease and helping bring it to an end.

Traditionally, health experts warn that people should try
and avoid helping mosquitoes to breed as much as they can.

But the new breeding programme involves mosquitoes with
Wolbachia bacteria. That stops them from carrying pathogens that can lead to
diseases such as yellow fever and chikungunya, as well as the Zika virus.

The bacteria is passed on as the mosquitoes breed, meaning
that if enough are able to get out into the world then the ability of the
insects to unwittingly pass on the disease will be limited.

Hundreds of
thousands of mosquito eggs have been injected with the disease by scientists at
Monash University in Australia. They have been given to people around the world
who are being encouraged to help the eggs hatch and release the helpful
mosquitoes into the world.

The most advanced results have been found in tests run in
Australia, but they are also being conducted in Colombia, Vietnam and
Indonesia, and in Brazil.

The research has been sponsored by a range of different
groups and governments, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, since
2004. But it has taken on new urgency as the Zika virus spreads around the
globe, particularly affecting people in Brazil, and the World Health
Organisation has designated it an international emergency.

Is the zika virus linked to birth defects?

Some mosquitoes and other insects naturally carry the
important microbe, but it isn’t found in the mosquitoes that are responsible
for most of the outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases like Zika and yellow
fever.

Scientists are breeding special mosquitoes that can’t carry
particular diseases, in an attempt to stop the spread of the Zika virus.

The Zika virus is spread by mosquitoes, as are other
diseases like dengue fever. But scientists hope that by breeding more
mosquitoes they might be able to fight the disease.

The virus has been declared a worldwide emergency after it
spread rapidly and has been linked to a quickly-growing number of babies being
born with abnormally small heads.

Zika virus ‘could affect hundreds of thousands of people in
Spain’

Thousands of people around the world are helping to breed
mosquitoes with a special bacteria that means they are unable to transmit the
disease. Those insects could then spread around the world, crowding out the
mosquitoes that can carry the disease and helping bring it to an end.

Traditionally, health experts warn that people should try
and avoid helping mosquitoes to breed as much as they can.

But the new breeding programme involves mosquitoes with
Wolbachia bacteria. That stops them from carrying pathogens that can lead to
diseases such as yellow fever and chikungunya, as well as the Zika virus.

The bacteria is passed on as the mosquitoes breed, meaning
that if enough are able to get out into the world then the ability of the
insects to unwittingly pass on the disease will be limited.

Hundreds of
thousands of mosquito eggs have been injected with the disease by scientists at
Monash University in Australia. They have been given to people around the world
who are being encouraged to help the eggs hatch and release the helpful
mosquitoes into the world.

The most advanced results have been found in tests run in
Australia, but they are also being conducted in Colombia, Vietnam and
Indonesia, and in Brazil.

The research has been sponsored by a range of different
groups and governments, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, since
2004. But it has taken on new urgency as the Zika virus spreads around the
globe, particularly affecting people in Brazil, and the World Health
Organisation has designated it an international emergency.

Is the zika virus linked to birth defects?

Some mosquitoes and other insects naturally carry the
important microbe, but it isn’t found in the mosquitoes that are responsible
for most of the outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases like Zika and yellow fever.

Mrs. Chioma Adanma Umeha is a journalist of over two decades experience. At the moment, she is the Health Editor of Newswatch Times, Lagos, Nigeria.
A graduate of Mass Communications from Anambra State University, Enugu, she also holds a Masters Degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos.

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About Me

Mrs. Chioma Adanma Umeha is a journalist of over two decades experience. At the moment, she is the Health Editor of Newswatch Times, Lagos, Nigeria.
A graduate of Mass Communications from Anambra State University, Enugu, she also holds a Masters Degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos.